Robert Roy, U.S. Army & U.S. Army Reserve, 1984-2017

Robert Roy of Newington served for more than 30 years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve and was deployed across the world including to war zones in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Following his 2017 retirement he continued to serve by volunteering with organizations including the Civil Air Patrol, Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project and more.

In 2025, Roy was diagnosed with Hilar cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer believed to be caused by exposure to toxins during his military service. He has endured multiple hospitalizations, surgeries and treatments, losing more than 70 pounds in a fight to become eligible for a high-risk surgery that could save his life.

DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 is proud to honor Rob with the Angelo Tomasso, Sr. and Angelo Tomasso, Jr. Veteran of Distinction Award for his selfless service to our nation.

John Lynch, U. S. Marine Corps, 1955-1959 (posthumous)

John Lynch, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in French Morocco from 1955-1959, was a highly respected leader in the Greater New Britain Veterans community for decades before his passing at age 89 in June of 2025. He was a long-time Commander of the Marine Corps League Hardware City Detachment 781 and was familiar to all as the stoic and dependable Master of Ceremonies at most every New Britain-area Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremony for years. When a New Britain-area group or organization wanted to honor Veterans in some way, John Lynch was usually the first phone call they made. Lynch was a long-time supporter of causes and organizations including Toys for Tots, the Rose Program, the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, the New Britain Veterans Council, the General Haller Post, the Franco American War Veterans, the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, the American Legion and DAV Chapter 8’s Wreaths Across America of New Britain program.

DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 is proud to honor John with the Angelo Tomasso, Sr. and Angelo Tomasso, Jr. Veteran of Distinction Award for his selfless service to our nation.DAV Hardware City Chapter 8 is proud to honor Peter with the Angelo Tomasso, Sr. and Angelo Tomasso, Jr. Veteran of Distinction Award for his selfless service to our nation.